Musée du verre (Art of Glass)

THE MUSEUM IS CURRENTLY CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. A PROGRAM OF EVENTS OUTSIDE THE BUILDING IS BEING PUT TOGETHER DURING ITS CLOSURE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Located in the heart of the Domaine de la Verrerie, in the eighteenth century, the former Royal Glassworks le Musée du Verre  (the Glass Museum)  has been closed to the public for several years.  The buildings that make up this important heritage site are in need of major reconstruction. But a Museum is not just a building. Its collection is what gives it its identity. During the time that the Domaine de la Verrerie is transformed into the Musée du Verre Nomade, we offer a program of extra-mural encounters to allow you to discover glass in a new way and in different places.

The Domaine de la Verrerie has existed for more than 250 years. In 1754, it covered 400 hectares and had numerous mine shafts. Gabriel de Solages obtained authorisation from the King to build a glassworks there, which became the first charcoal Royal Glassworks in the South West. It was operational up until 1856. La Verrerie Sainte-Clotilde took over the production not far away, close to the railroad where it continued to work from 1862 up to 1931.

Even though the original château was destroyed in a fire in 1895, the rest of the buildings from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries have survived in particular the foundations of the former Royal Glassworks and the Orangerie built in the second half of the nineteenth century.  Outbuildings of the former château used as a guardhouse and a chapel have also survived as well as the 17 hectare park.

In 1985, the former Glassworks was turned into a Museum. For 34 years, le Musée du Verre  (the Glass Museum) has displayed ancient objects and contemporary pieces and beyond that brought the domain to life through its various events such as the la Biennale des Verriers (Glass Biennial) and the workshop created in 2001 for glassblowers and glassblowing demonstrations.

Today the collection of buildings requires essential reconstruction work. The Museum therefore remains closed before bringing life back to the Domaine de la Verrerie in the coming years. During the time that it is closed, the Museum is pursuing a number of projects like the Biennale des Verriers, the biggest contemporary glass fair in France.